Finding my voice!

I have been searching for my voice all my life. I have spent many hours and days reflecting on others thoughts while burying mine so deep I lost all contact with myself. Recently I have found my voice again. Many are those who think I should keep my thoughts to myself but no more. I will trust my voice and I will speak it out loud when I choose. My voice was hard to hear growing up because there were so many of us but no longer is that the case. I think and I speak and when I am at my very best I write. My voice is best heard on paper, it is then that I am able to define what I really want to say. Today I write as an exercise for my soul. Do you understand that writing clears all the other voices out of your head and you find your lone voice. I have value and I have grace and mercy and these pages shall reflect those very things. These pages shall also expose my doubts and fears which are growing smaller and smaller every time I uncover something new about myself.  Words give expression to thoughts , ideas and emotions but best of all they give meaning to my voice!
My very favorite voice is the one I use to pray. When I take time and pray I think first of those I want to pray for and I start thinking of all the reasons I am thankful for that person. I thank God first and foremost for the very one I pray for then and only after exhausting my thanksgiving do I make supplication to God on their behalf. Yes my voice is best when it is speaking to God in a prayer of thanksgiving or in a request. I find when I use my voice in prayer I am settled in my spirit by the time I have completed my prayer. My prayer has given voice and started a life long conversation with my Creator whom I would not really know otherwise. Prayer has become my greatest form of communication and given voice to the better part of me, the part that loves others more than I want to be right. My voice has found it way out into the world, has yours?

I believe

Today I find myself wondering what I believe about the Holy Scripture. I personally believe Jesus to be the son of God incarnate. I believe he was born a man so as to bring us back in good standing with our heavenly Father, redeeming what Adam lost. I believe Adam the first human was weak and incapable much like the whole human race of today and every other time period. So God clothed himself in flesh and did for us what our feeble attempts couldn't, live a life that fully and completely honored the Author of creation. Jesus pleased God in every way possible.
Here I am a woman with a heart for God and wanting a relationship with my Creator and everywhere I turn I am told my life isn't holy enough, every scripture a reminder of my complete and utter failure. So in my frustration I search the word for clues and come across my favorite scriptures; when Jesus was asked by the pharisees which was the greatest of all the commandments, Jesus said," Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. On these two hang all the law and prophets," (Matthew 22:36-40). When I read this I make the decision to believe that this truth spoken by the Son of God is all I need. I shall contemplate love and it shall be my sacrifice to God and to my neighbor as all the other laws and scripture muddy the water for me.  I am a simple woman so I must keep my religion simple too. One other scripture that speaks to my heart is in the book of Job chapter 13 verse 15 says, Tho He slay me yet I will trust him; I lean hard on this scripture when things get tough, this comforts me to know I am in Gods hands and I can trust His will for my life. I am a woman of faith and I must work out my own salvation ( Philippians 2:12), so please do not be offended when I do not heed your words of warning, God gave me a mind and a heart to seek Him with and I trust He will guide me into paths of righteousness because He loves me and only wants what is best for me. I also trust Him to lead and guide those I love as well, even you. I am not afraid because perfect love casts out all fear, (1st John 4:18), so please do not fear for me instead love me just as I am and I will make every attempt to love you and offer you acceptance just as you are! I believe that God will never leave us nor forsake us,( Hebrews 13:5), so trust Him as you walk out your own journey. I believe His mercy will endure forever and we can rest in His sacrifice and love, He paid the price once and for all.